In some way, to some degree, I feel that all people lean toward authenticity as plants lean toward the sun. Without sunlight, plants wither and die. Without authenticity, we wither and die in confusion, sadness, and pettiness — even anger, hatred, and violence.

The dictionary traces the origin of “authentic” to the Latin authenticus and the Greek authentikós: original, primary, at first hand; acting on one’s own authority. Our current English definitions include: not false or copied; genuine, real, actual, truthful; of undisputed origin or authorship.

Real. Truthful. Pure. Purposeful. We are not given this kind of life, we have to want it, we have to discover it, we have to create it. Are we living this way, are we living a genuine, real, and truthful life, or a copycat life? Is our life a collage of the thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and opinions we’ve collected from others? Is our life real or rehearsed, genuine or counterfeit, sincere or phony? Acting on one’s own authority is a daring challenge.

Who am I? What is real? What should I do? Where should I go? How should I live? These questions are the precursors to an authentic life. Your authentic life is your response to these kinds of questions. We’ve got to question, to inquire, to wonder, to probe. That’s the beginning of being genuine, real, truthful; that’s how we learn to act on our own authority.

Where to go for our own answers, how to find our own authority? We go to the source. We sip from the inner wellspring of wisdom. We take ourselves to the well, we drink. With this power, we create a life that is ours from the inside out, one that makes our skin glow and our eyes gleam.

Can anyone tell you what your authentic life is? I don’t think so. You’ll have to work all that out for yourself, just as I have for myself. If no one can tell you what, can anyone tell you how? Yes, I think so. I create my authentic life with ten words, what I call The 5 Principles of Authentic Living. They don’t tell me what, they show me how.

After more than 50 years of stalking authenticity in living and speaking, of seeking that which is real and true in my life and in life, I’ve got the elusive answers to my persistent questions in hand. But my answers won’t do you any good; that’s why I don’t speak about them. They’re part of my authenticity. I don’t want to create a minefield of opinions to threaten your adventure in creating your own life’s answers. I will, however, share with you how and where I found my answers, my authenticity, my inner freedom.

These few words are so many steppingstones to the very center of creative and expressive consciousness within our own self, from where we can truly celebrate the miracle of life by lighting up the world with that inner spark of magic that is ours alone — our authentic self.